The National tribune., 1887-12-15
OUR RUR4L TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
BOGUS CHEESE.

bogus cheeSe2 Why is it that dairy conven-
tions do not 20 for this contemptible fraud
with persistent and honest energy? Some
people do not have any difficulty or hesitancy
in giving an answer, and they affirm that it is
because the butter makers have skinned milk
on hand that must be got rid of and that hence
filled cheese is popular with them. The Rural
and StOckHsGA does not go that far at present
lt is hard to think that men who have been
foaming at the mouth, 10, these long years. over
the bogus butter question, should be so inconsis-
tent as practically to defend bogus cheese.
But whatever the cause is, the associations and
butter-makers OF every class must take a firm
stand against the adulteration of cheese. It
is fraud upon the consumer. 1t is no bet
ter than counterfeiting money. Adulteration
OF food products never is. And besides all
that, it is an injury to our export trade. The
evil has been in existence in this country,
with but very feeble remonstrance, for a long
time, and il is high time that the cheese adul-
tersters were brought up with a round turn.
Let Congress give us similar legislation as TO
cheese that il gave as to the manufacture and
sale of bogus butter, and let the State Legisla-
tures also take action upon the subject Make
il necessary for the dealer to obtain license.
That license feature strikes the nail right on
the head-Raral and Stockmdn.
BEE-KEEPING AS A SPECIALITY.
The question whether it is better for bee
keepers to make a speciality of their work or
not has been on the tapis for discussions in
bee periodicals and at conventions lately. The
almost entire failure of tho honey crop through
out the country has caused distrust in the
| minds of some, as TO whether the busy bee can
be depended upon as a means Of livelihood.
Some think il is better TO have all their eggs in
one basket; for if they have too many irons in
the fire. part of them viii surely burn. This
| failure of the honey crop has been good thing
| in many ways for bee-keepers. Those who had
a supply on hand are able TO dispose Of it
readily at double last years prices. All unde-
sirable stock has been worked of, and the
country will be clear Of honey before another
| season. AT first thought small-fruit growing
and Bookkeeping might work nicely together,
| but on consideration we see that the busy sea-
sons Of both come together. When the fruit Is
ripening and needs to be gathered and mar
keted, the bees are swarming, and the surplus
boxes must be put in the hives.
GROWING CUTTINGS.
A new method Of growing grape cuttings,
which we have not as yet tried, but which
looks feasible, is the following: Two-eye cut
| tings are tied in bundles aud buried in a dry
| place, tOp-end down, so that the bud end Is
about one foot below the surface Of SOIL
Plenty Of soil must be worked down among the
cuttings. Some straw or litter, thrown over
the spot, serves to keep the ground from freez-
| ing. The soil is removed in early Spring to
within two inches Of the cuttings. and thick
| layer Of fermenting horse manure thrown upon
them. This warns the ground and induces not
only rapid callusing, but in many cases forma-
tion of roots also. At the proper time the cut
tings are taken up and planted in the usual
fashion in rich, well-prepared soil.
| NOTES.
Queens over two years old are apt to be-
1 come barren, and should be superseded with
those of greater vigor and more fecundity.
| The Hubbard and Turban are best keeping
squashes. dry cellar provided with furnace
is not bad place to keep them.
| If you have not heretofore cut your hay
and fodder, by all means buy q cutting box.
The saving in feeding cut fodder will surprise
| you.
A Colorado man says that he has made
more money by furnishing lambs to butchers
than by anything he has ever tried before in
Colorado.
| Tho management Of the cold frame re-
quires some skill and care, though less than
| the hotbed or greenhouse. In general throw
of the mats and shutters every day when there
| is no danger of freezing the plants
| Given in Winter, cooked food-fed slightly
\ warm, as il is pretty sure to be-is eaten more
| rapidly and does more good than that uncooked.
Cows increase their yield of milk on it, and all
animals thrive better than previously.
| 1t is said that 1000 sheep kept on q piece
of ground one year will make the soil capable
of yielding grain enough-over and above the
capacity of the soil without the sheep manure
| to support ,035 sheep an entire year.
When vegetables are stored in cellars they
must be kept from fermenting, as they surely
will ferment when piled in large bulk. This
may be accomplished by piling on shelves SO as
| 10 allow some circulation of air among them, or
| by packing In barrels.
DO not let your chickens go into Winter
quarters with scaly legs. Treat them TO a
| couple of applications of sulphur and lard, and
the roosts frequently. Scaly legs are not
only unsightly, but fowls cannot do the work
they ought to thus encumbered.
Roots should not be fed with straw or poor
hay, as they are too much alike in composition.
Feed the roots with clover or good hay. and
give the more concentrated food with the straw.
1t requires more skill TO be successful in feed
ing poor than rich kinds Of food.
1t is n fact that dogs seldom attack sheep
kept with cattle, unless in the case of some old
rouge, and then only when the sheep are found
at considerable distance, for the instinct OF
the cattle is to attack animals found chasing or
worrying other stock near them.
Prevention in all cases of disease, whether
man, beast or fowls, if successful, removes the
necessity of a cure, and 1t therefore becomes
more important and worthy Of greater consid-
GRAFTON. Prevention is not 30 expensive, and
involve less labor, vexation aud anxiety.
- Geese do not receive as much attention N
they should on farms especially adapted to the
rearing of water fowl. Besides yielding a reg
ular income in the way of feathers, they are one
Of the most profitable fowls for the market
Much easier reared than turkeys, they sell a,
readily in most seasons at as good profits.
Sheep not in the best condition for breed
ing should be got rid Of without delay. Dis
temper foot rot and other difficulties in q flock
cause too much labor. Only the healthy ewes
should be retained. All others, unless nearly
well, should be destroyed.
-Fall-made butter is always preferred "a
that OF Summer, because the weather being
cold the milk IS kept at the proper temperature
10 raise the cream in the best condition, max
, ing butter OF great solidity, and the grasses
that start after the Fall rains give it fine In
yor.
The exposure OF cows for an hour or two
} on cold days while getting water causes the
consumption and loss Ofmany dollars worth Of
food during the Winter. Besides, ii is much
better that animals should be able to drink
without Interference from Others, and this can
I only be done by putting the water before the
, animal as IL stands in is stall
The American Dairymag says that there /,
! one point that should be deeply impressed
! upon the dairyman's mind, and that is, IL h,
wants 10 make first-class article of butter, hs
must churn often. Never let the cream ge
too DID, no matter how cold it may be kept. Il
cold, cream after three days old will get IA
and frinky; IL sour, the tactic acid will eat VI
the most OF the butter glObules, thereby caus
ing considerable loss To avoid such disadvan
-.